When my husband and I read the letters and your comments about the potential growth around I-66, with the new residential developments, etc., we agreed wholeheartedly with the disastrous scenario that was being forecast -- until we realized that it may not be all doom and gloom.
We thought that many of the families moving into those apartment blocks, etc., are already likely to be living in the region and wishing to move closer to the Metro or coming from places such as Loudoun and Fauquier counties.
So the potential traffic is not necessarily going to be worse, and the pollution might also not be as bad because those people will not be driving into the District from so far away.
We appreciate that the traffic tie-ups are likely to be moved from one area to another, but "new" traffic is possibly not the only scenario. (Are we clutching at straws?!)
Virginia and Chris Johnson
Alexandria
I share the concern that this development could adversely affect our existing transportation facilities. Remember, there are few resources available to Metro and VDOT to improve the situation in the years ahead. We have to safeguard what we've got.
Give Toll Lanes a Spin?
In case you missed it, Virginia's transportation commissioner has directed the state Department of Transportation to enter negotiations with the company Fluor Danielto build two more lanes each way on the Capital Beltway, from near the Springfield interchange to north of the Dulles Toll Road.
This public-private partnership would allow the extra capacity to be built at a time when state funds alone are insufficient to cover the cost, Transportation Commissioner Philip A. Shucet said.
The new lanes would be high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, free to vehicles carrying three or more people and available for a variable toll (depending on congestion) to others. The toll revenue would help offset the cost of construction.
"The private sector is able to share in the risk of funding this project, which otherwise would be practically impossible if VDOT had to rely on traditional funding sources to improve the Beltway," Shucet said.
No timetable is available, pending completion of negotiations.
This is a potential milestone for public-private road endeavors and could help us reduce gridlock.
Maryland is also looking at express toll lanes, although they would be open to everyone for a fee.
Dr. Gridlock is for implementing such lanes to see how they work. What do you think?
Alternative Route to Va.
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I noted with interest your response to Marilyn Lynch of Chantilly regarding finding Interstate 395 from D.C. 295 south (Dr. Gridlock, Aug. 26).
You had advised Ms. Lynch to exit at the poorly signed Howard Road exit (3B) and proceed over the South Capitol Street Bridge and through several traffic signals to get to the entrance to I-395.
I may have a better route for Ms. Lynch.
Although I'm a Virginia resident, my family and I often travel to Maryland to visit friends and enjoy the restaurants, shopping and entertainment the state has to offer.
To get back to Virginia from southbound D.C. 295, we travel south and take the first exit past the Howard Road exit, or 3A, marked Suitland Parkway/Navy Yard. We stay in the offramp lane, which then becomes the freeway on ramp to D.C. 295 north. We thus get back onto the freeway heading north. We have essentially made a legal U-turn by using this off/on ramp.
The next exit after getting onto D.C. 295 north is the 11th Street Bridge, which will take drivers to I-395 (either north or south). In fact, the exit is marked as leading to I-395.
From there, it's a pleasant drive over the 14th Street bridge and back to the commonwealth. Although you do slow down to exit D.C. 295 south, and have to accelerate again at the on ramp to D.C. 295 north, you will not encounter a traffic signal, stop in a seedy area or otherwise have to stop.
